Provisions on prohibition of supply and sale of regulated mercury-added products to take effect on December 1
The relevant provisions of the Mercury Control Ordinance prohibiting the supply and sale of regulated mercury-added products will come into effect on December 1 this year to protect public health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions of mercury and mercury compounds.
The Ordinance came into effect on December 1, 2021, to fully implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury in Hong Kong. It regulates the import, export, keeping and use of mercury, mercury mixtures and mercury compounds, as well as the import, export and manufacture of mercury-added products. Provisions prohibiting the supply or sale of regulated mercury-added products will take effect on December 1 this year to facilitate the industry's gradual transition to the use and supply of mercury-free alternatives.
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that starting from December 1, 2024, no person shall supply (including selling or providing for free) regulated mercury-added products. However, the use of regulated mercury-added products does not constitute an offence. Regulated mercury-added products include batteries, switches and relays, compact fluorescent lamps, linear fluorescent lamps, high-pressure mercury vapour lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps for electronic display, cosmetics, biocides and topical antiseptics, and non-electronic measuring devices (mercury thermometers and mercury sphygmomanometers).
The spokesman said, "Currently, most regulated mercury-added products are no longer available on the market. There are ample mercury-free alternatives available, and there are no local manufacturers that require the use of mercury or mercury compounds in their manufacturing processes. It is believed that this control will have a very low impact on the public and the industry."
In order to help the industry understand and comply with the provisions of the Ordinance, the EPD has sent letters to inform stakeholders, including suppliers, sellers, and chambers of commerce, about the details of the prohibition on the supply of regulated mercury-added products. This information has also been disseminated to their members through chambers of commerce. From September to October this year, EPD officers visited about 1 000 merchants that may still sell regulated mercury-added products (such as mercury thermometers and mercury sphygmomanometers), distributing promotional materials and explaining relevant regulatory content to them.
In addition, the EPD will provide free collection and disposal services to merchants who still have stocks of regulated mercury-added products. Merchants in need can apply to the EPD from December 2, 2024, to January 17, 2025. Enquiries regarding the details can be made by calling 3107 8421 or emailing mercurycontrol@epd.gov.hk.
For information on regulated mercury-added products, please visit the EPD webpage:
www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/international_conventions/mercury/mco.html.
SFST meets with Swiss financial officials and President of International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, met with Swiss financial officials and top management of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Bern and Lausanne, respectively, on the last day of his visit to Switzerland (November 7, Bern time).
In the morning, Mr Hui met with the State Secretary for International Finance at the Federal Department of Finance, Switzerland, Ms Daniela Stoffel. Mr Hui noted that Hong Kong has set out its strategic development as an international financial centre (IFC) on all fronts, including fintech, sustainable finance and the connect programmes facilitating the two-way flow of capital between China and the world. Both sides discussed opportunities for bilateral co-operation, given that Hong Kong is a leading IFC with its financial sector contributing nearly one-fourth of its Gross Domestic Product, while Switzerland has a well-developed service sector led by financial services.
Mr Hui participated in the IMD's luncheon, during which he met with the Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center, Professor Arturo Bris. Mr Hui also met separately with the IMD's President, Mr David Bach. Mr Hui shared with Mr Bach Hong Kong's latest policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the asset and wealth management industry as well as green and sustainable finance. The two parties will maintain communication and explore more bilateral co-operation opportunities between Hong Kong and Switzerland.
The IMD's World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024, published earlier this year, continued to recognise Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world. Hong Kong's ranking rose two places to fifth globally in the Yearbook, with its ranking in "Business efficiency" placing within the top 10 globally. In terms of sub-factors, Hong Kong ranked among the global top five in "Tax policy", "International investment" and "Finance".
On the same day, Mr Hui paid a courtesy call to the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, Mr Mao Jun, in Bern.
Concluding his visit to Switzerland, Mr Hui said, "The Chief Executive clearly states in his 2024 Policy Address the principle that anything essential but lacking in the system must be established; and any areas in need of consolidation must be reinforced and improved. He also noted the need to continue to actively expand and deepen overseas networks. My visit to Switzerland is a step towards putting these ideas into practice.
"Switzerland has traditionally been a centre for asset and wealth management and risk management, and Hong Kong has also been developing these two areas in recent years. The Policy Address proposed several key measures to further strengthen Hong Kong's status as international asset and wealth management and risk management centres. Switzerland and Hong Kong offer financial services across different time zones. Through meetings with top figures from international organisations, the financial sector and the business community, all parties share the view that there is ample room for co-operation between the two places. In addition, Switzerland and Hong Kong, as well as the international community, attach great importance to sustainable disclosure. Hong Kong must capitalise on the momentum of this development and strive to be among the first jurisdictions to align the local sustainability disclosure requirements with the International Financial Reporting Standards - Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards), in order to consolidate our position as an international green and sustainable finance hub and attract more overseas enterprises to leverage our strengths for development in Hong Kong."
Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong today (November 8).
SFST meets with Swiss financial officials and President of International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST meets with Swiss financial officials and President of International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST meets with Swiss financial officials and President of International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST meets with Swiss financial officials and President of International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
